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Iguana(aka bull iguana, green) - a large lizard that lives mainly on trees and trunks and is awake in daytime days.

Cats, dogs, parrots have become such familiar animals that they won’t surprise anyone. Many people are thinking about purchasing an exotic pet - a snake, spider, lizard.

Iguanas have been in great demand for several decades now. s - large lizards native to South America. They attract attention with their original appearance, calm character and non-standard behavior. When purchasing such a pet, you should understand that keeping an exotic animal will require a lot of time and money. The slightest mistake in care can lead to the most tragic consequences.

Iguana family: description, types, photos

The iguana family belongs to the suborder of reptiles. These are one of the largest lizards on the planet. Currently, about 38 species are known, which are divided into 8 large groups. They differ in size, color and lifestyle.

1. Marine live only on Galapagos Islands. They are able to spend a lot of time underwater.
2. Desert- the most miniature. The maximum length of the body including the tail is 40 cm.
3. Real iguanas- the largest, growing up to 2 m in length. Divided into 2 types. Ordinary ones are purchased for maintaining a home. Meat and eggs are eaten, and crafts are made from the leather.
4. Fijian tabbys are characterized by spotted colors.
5. Konofols, like marine iguanas, live only in the Galapagos. They differ in color - brown body and yellow head. Listed in the Red Book.
6. Chuckwells live in the USA and Mexico. Lizards are small in size (no more than 1 m) with a dull color.
7. Ringtails live on the islands of the Caribbean. There are 8 varieties.
8. Black- the largest group, with 15 species. In lizards, sexual dimorphism is clearly visible.

Common iguanas are purchased as pets. They eat plant foods, have bright colors, a phlegmatic and accommodating character.

Green iguana: appearance

Common iguanas are called green, but their colors can be any - red, black, purple. It all depends on the environment. Lizards are different large sizes- up to 1.7 m in length. Interestingly, almost a third is the tail. It grows up to 42 cm. Weight is variable - from 1.5 to 12 kg. The drier the climate, the less body weight.

The iguana has a memorable appearance:

• a long tail that serves as a serious weapon and helps to swim;
• longitudinal ridge from head to tip of tail;
• rough folds on the body and a “bag” on the neck;
• short paws with sharp claws;
• body covered with dense scales.

Common iguanas do not have webbed toes, so they are not well suited for life in water.

Iguanas have a third eye on the crown of their head, covered with a translucent film. Scientists still cannot determine its purpose and consider it a rudiment inherited from distant ancestors. But according to some studies, this organ responds to changing light conditions during the day.

Animals have very sharp teeth that can bite painfully. If a lizard loses a tooth, a new one quickly grows in place of the old one. A sharp crest, claws and a long tail serve as protection from enemies.

Iguanas have a very unique metabolism. Excess potassium salts are eliminated from the body not through the genitourinary system, but by sneezing. Many lizards have another unique property - the ability to catch odors with their tongues and see ultraviolet rays.

Habitat and lifestyle

In nature, green iguanas prefer to live in humid, warm climates. Their habitat covers the tropical forests of the South and a small part North America, islands in the Caribbean.

They settle in places with dense vegetation, mango thickets or near water bodies(sea shores, rivers, streams). They are active only during daylight hours. During the day they bask in the sun, maintaining body temperature. At night they rest on the lower branches of trees. Life expectancy in natural conditions is approximately 8 years.

Nutrition

Green iguanas are vegetarians. Their body is not able to digest animal protein. Insects or their larvae can enter the lizard's body only by accident - along with the leaves and fruits of plants.

Some researchers claim that a hungry or captive iguana can eat a small animal. This is true. But constantly eating protein-rich foods does not lead to anything good.

In its natural environment, the lizard feeds on leaves, fruits and flowers of tropical plants:

• Jamaican plum;
• incense tree;
• thecomoy;
• Merremia.

In total, there are more than 100 plants that the iguana eats.

Reproduction

Green iguanas reach sexual maturity at 3-4 years of age. The mating season begins in January or February. At this time, males become very aggressive. In the struggle for territory and the female, they often engage in fights, striking each other with terrible blows with their tails. Weak animals prefer not to enter into conflict, but immediately flee.

The female carries eggs for a little more than two months and lays them in a dry sandy area, leaving her usual habitats. This process sometimes takes several days. One clutch can contain from 20 to 70 eggs. The incubation period lasts from 3 to 4 months (depending on temperature environment).

Immediately after birth, the cubs are very similar in appearance to adults. They are distinguished by independent behavior, but during the first months of life they prefer to stay in a small group. A newborn iguana weighs about 12 g and has a body length of 15 to 25 cm.

Natural enemies

The iguana has many enemies in its natural environment- birds of prey, some species of rodents, big snakes. Their prey in most cases is young, old or sick animals.

The adult individual, due to its coloring, often goes unnoticed V thick green tropical forest foliage. It often flees from snakes or larger lizards. Only wounded animals show aggression. The rest prefer not to get into a fight.

Iguana and man

The relationship between iguanas and humans goes back hundreds of years. The ancient tribes of South America worshiped large lizards, they were deified and sometimes sacrificed. This cult gradually disappeared with the arrival of the conquistadors.

In Mexico and some other countries, meat is used for cooking. The most famous dishes:

• roast guisado;
• birria;
• coconut stew.

Iguanas have been very popular pets lately. However, their sale is controlled to avoid extinction of the species.

To keep a reptile at home you need to purchase a terrarium. It should be spacious and well ventilated. As the lizard grows, its size should also increase.

Air temperature is of great importance. Iguanas are cold-blooded animals, so the climate greatly affects their health. The terrarium must be equipped with heaters. The optimal air temperature is from 26 to 35˚С.

It is necessary to purchase an ultraviolet lamp complete with the heater.. Basking under its rays, the pet will receive the necessary amount of vitamin D. This element promotes digestion and absorption of calcium. Insufficient lighting levels lead to the development of bone diseases and the death of the animal.

In addition, the terrarium must be equipped with a small pool with warm water, thick tree branches. There it will be easier for the lizard to bask under the lamp. All accessories can be purchased at a pet store or from a breeder.

What to feed

In its natural environment, the common iguana feeds exclusively on plant matter. At home, it is recommended to feed her the same food. Your pet will benefit from:

• greenery;
• asparagus;
• dandelions;
• bean and bean pods;
• vegetables and fruits.

Some claim that iguanas living in captivity happily eat meat and insects. The lizard can eat these foods. But a diet rich in protein often causes kidney failure. and subsequent death of the animal.

Before buying a green iguana, you should think about whether you have enough time and patience to care for an expensive and exotic pet.

Taxonomy

Russian name – Common or green iguana

Latin name: Iguana iguana

English name – Green iguana

Class Reptiles or Reptiles (Reptilia)

Order Squamata

Suborder Lizards (Lacertilia)

Iguana family (Iguanidae)

Genus True iguanas (Iguana)

The name “iguana” comes from the word iwana in the language of the Taina people, who once lived on the Caribbean islands and disappeared with the arrival of the conquistadors. The Spaniards borrowed this word and it became scientific Latin language and into all modern European languages.

Conservation status

The species is quite common, however, it is included in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade - CITES. This means that the trade in these animals must be controlled.

Currently, in some areas of its range, the common iguana suffers from economic activity humans and changes in natural landscapes.

On the other hand, having colonized the coast of Florida (outside the boundaries of its natural range), the common iguana itself causes some harm to local rare species flora and fauna.

Species and man

For the first time in European literature the description of the iguana appeared in 1553, when Europeans conquered Central and South America.

Among Indians of different tribes (Mayans, Moche), the green iguana was considered a sacred animal; it was worshiped or sacrificed to the gods.

Nowadays, the iguana more often plays not a divine, but a gastronomic role: many people cook from it National dishes Latin American cuisine.

The common iguana is often kept at home in special terrariums. Animals tolerate captivity well, quickly get used to humans and reproduce successfully. Thanks to this, the fishing pressure on natural populations is reduced.

Distribution and habitats

The common iguana lives in the Central and South America. Its original natural range covers a large area from Mexico south to southern Brazil and Paraguay, as well as the islands of the Caribbean Sea.

In addition, several populations ancestral to lizards brought in by hurricanes, accidentally introduced on ships, or escaped from captivity have emerged in some areas of the United States (Florida, Hawaiian Islands, Rio Grande Valley in Texas). It is these “invasive” (moving into places where there were none before) populations of iguanas that have settled in the United States that cause some harm to the local flora and fauna (eating plants, occupying the burrows of the rare rabbit owl, etc.).

The habitat of the common iguana is a variety of biotopes with dense woody vegetation, mainly tropical forests, as well as mangroves and dry, open areas of sea coasts.

Appearance

The common iguana is a fairly large lizard; the body length together with the host usually reaches 1.5 m, although individuals are known to be more than 2 m long and weighing over 8 kg. On average, the weight of males is about 4 kg, and females - from 1.2 to 3 kg. The weight of the cubs when hatching from eggs is about 12 g, the length varies from 17 to 25 cm.

Contrary to its name, the color of this iguana is not necessarily green and depends on the age of the animal and the area in which it lives. IN different parts range they can be bluish and blue, lavender and black, pink, orange and even red.

The body is thin, the tail is very long and laterally compressed. A large longitudinal ridge is clearly visible on the back and tail, protecting the animal from enemies. The head is tetrahedral, covered with scutes. There is a large pouch on the throat, which plays a large role in thermoregulation, as well as in the mating behavior of males. The iguana's teeth are very sharp, wide and flat with small teeth along the edges. They are located on inside jaw bones, so they are difficult to see, especially in young and small individuals. The name of one of the fossil lizards is associated with the shape of the iguana’s teeth. When the teeth of some ancient reptile were found in the 19th century, researchers, based on the shape of the teeth, attributed it to a giant iguana and called it iguanodon (iguan-toothed). Later it turned out that there is no close relationship between these reptiles, but the name remains.

Paws are short with long fingers and sharp claws; There are 5 toes on both the front and hind limbs. Like most lizards, when fleeing from enemies, iguanas cast off their tail, which then grows back.

The green iguana has excellent eyesight, but only in bright light and at nightfall does the lizard’s vision noticeably deteriorate.

Like most other lizards, the iguana has a “third eye,” a vestigial organ located on the top of its head. It is located in a special hole between the frontal and parietal bones of the skull and is covered with large scales, translucent in the central part. This rudimentary organ does not have a visual function; apparently, it plays a certain role in synchronizing the body’s daily rhythm during the change of day and night in nature, as well as in orienting the animal in space.

The common iguana's hearing is very subtle, but its severity depends on the ambient temperature. In this case, the ideal temperature is +370, and if it significantly increases or decreases, hearing deteriorates, especially in the upper range.

Lifestyle and behavior

Most Green iguanas spend their lives in trees, and they are active only during the daytime. On cool nights, reptiles sit on thick branches in the middle and lower tier forests, and with sunrise they try to climb higher, where they bask for a long time, frozen on a branch. The sun's rays raise body temperature, and ultraviolet radiation produces vitamin D, which aids digestion. Only after being well warmed up for several hours do iguanas begin to actively feed. In inclement or cool weather, iguanas stay on the ground, retaining internal heat.

If they fall from a tree, even from a height of 10-15 meters (which happens quite rarely), iguanas do not break. When falling, they try to catch the foliage with the claws of their hind limbs.

Iguanas have many enemies in nature: birds of prey and mammals, crocodiles, large snakes. However, in reality, large adult individuals successfully avoid danger. Rescue from enemies is facilitated by the protective coloration of lizards and their protective behavior. When in danger, most often the iguana flees or, rushing into the water, quickly swims away. During active defense, the lizard inflates its throat sac and its entire body, hisses and lunges with its head towards the enemy. If such threats do not help, iguanas may bite painfully or whip their tails violently.

Nutrition

Common iguanas are exclusively herbivorous, eating leaves, shoots, flowers and fruits of about 100 species of tropical plants. They cannot chew food, but only cut off large enough pieces of plants and immediately swallow them whole. I rarely drink water, but I immerse part of my head in water.

Reproduction

In nature, green iguanas become sexually mature at 3-4 years of age. The start of the breeding season is usually in January or February, but depends on the specific habitat.

During the mating season, which lasts about 2 weeks, males choose the place where mating will take place, mark the territory with secretions from special pores located on the limbs, and become aggressive towards potential rivals. However, in nature, real fights between males rarely occur; weaker males prefer to “leave the scene of the fight.” Demonstrative behavior male - often shaking his head, inflating the throat sac and changing color to a brighter one. This species of iguana is characterized by a combination of polygyny and polyandry, i.e. A male can mate with several females, and a female can mate with several males.

Pregnancy lasts 65 days. Towards the end of this period, females leave their usual habitats and move to dry sandbanks and dunes. There, in the sand, they dig holes with a depth of 45 cm to 1 m, where they lay from 20 to 70 eggs. Iguana eggs are white, 35-40 mm long, covered with a leathery, soft but dense shell. The process of laying eggs by the female lasts 3 or more days. Sometimes several females lay eggs in one hole. After laying eggs, the female buries a hole and leaves, no longer caring about the offspring.

Incubation lasts from 90 to 120 days at an ambient temperature of 30-32o C. The cubs are usually born in May, breaking through the shell with the help of a special growth on the forehead. The cub that has emerged to the surface is similar in shape and color to an adult iguana, only the crest on its back is smaller. The brood stays together for the first year of life.

Lifespan.

In nature, common iguanas live for about 8 years; in captivity they can live up to 20 years.

Green iguanas live well in zoos and reproduce if they are given favorable conditions. Spacious greenhouses with tropical vegetation - ideal conditions for keeping iguanas. At the Moscow Zoo, enclosures with running water are specially equipped for them, where they have the opportunity to climb, bask under a lamp, or hide in a secluded place. Iguanas have multiplied several times, and now these lizards can be seen not only at the main exhibition of the Terrarium (New Territory), but also at the permanent Reptile Exhibition located in the Old Territory. There are also iguanas in mixed exhibitions in other departments of the zoo, for example in the Exotarium.

Iguanas in captivity are fed 3 times a week. Their diet is very rich and includes cereals, a variety of vegetables and fruits, as well as a small amount of protein foods of animal origin (bird eggs, cottage cheese).

The green iguana (Iguana iguana) is one of the largest lizards on the planet. The bright color makes it very noticeable. Where do green iguanas live? Green iguanas live in the tropical rainforests of South America, among misty mountains, large trees and millions of plants. This is where we will go to get acquainted with their way of life.

The life of green iguanas begins in the egg. There they develop for about three months and hatch almost all at the same time. Having laid her eggs deep in a warm and safe hole, the female iguana returns to the forest. Iguanas do not care about the young generation. Having got out of the hole and finding themselves on the surface in the forest, the small iguanas are left to their own devices. At first they try to stay in groups. By sticking out their tongues, newborn reptiles explore the air and each other. After three months of confinement in a cramped egg, the outside world is scary, but there is a lot to learn before they grow up.

The first thing you need to do to survive is not to get caught by a predator. Surviving in the big jungle is not an easy task. Kids, not even knowing who their enemy or friend is, try to hide and run away from the perceived danger, using all the available tricks and devices that nature has provided them with: moving quickly, swimming and even running on water. But still, someone will be unlucky and will be eaten. But by sacrificing one of their brothers, the rest will receive their first lesson about who to be wary of.

The baby's next task is to find food and shelter. Green iguanas spend most of their time on the treetops near bodies of water. Thin branches on the upper floors of the forest are not the best place for the accommodation of such heavyweights. Adults weigh up to 13.5 kg and reach two meters in length, so they are ideally suited to live at a height of 30 meters. Their claws are like climbing cats, helping them climb trees well. Iguanas are very similar to small dinosaurs, although they actually feed on leaves, flowers and fruits.

Predators wanting to taste delicious meat the iguana has enough. Among them are snakes, crocodiles, birds of prey. The red-tailed buzzard is strong enough to pull an adult iguana from a treetop, but the reptile, with its keen eyesight, always sees the approaching predator. At a critical moment, iguanas jump from the tree into the water. By compressing their lungs, they absorb the impact, and their tough skin allows them to withstand a fall from a thirty-meter height. They feel at home in the water. Iguanas have waterproof skin, can hold their breath for up to 40 minutes, and can also slow their heart rate. So as long as they don't move, they're safe.

But as soon as the iguana rises to the surface of the water for air, another no less terrible predator is waiting for him - the caiman. The only escape from it can be a tree, so the iguanas rush to return to the cover of the forest. But let's return to our young iguanas. Instinct calls them to search for food and take shelter. Strange birds and new sounds are frightening, but the hungry reptiles continue to move forward and upward.

Despite the fact that they have only recently hatched from an egg, young iguanas have good control over their paws. They are fully equipped from birth, their claws are no worse than those of their parents. On the trees green color Iguanas are good camouflage, blending in with the foliage, so the untrained eye may not notice them at all. But snakes have trained eyes and any slightest movement reveals small iguanas. The wine, or grape, also knows how to perfectly camouflage itself; it waits for food to approach, and when it appears, the reptile rarely misses its lunch. Only 5% of green iguanas become adults. Therefore, in order to survive, a small lizard must constantly be on the alert.

After sunset, babies need to rest; to do this, they slow down, lower their body temperature, and fall asleep. Reptiles are cold-blooded, meaning they are warmed by the heat of the sun, and when it gets cold, they freeze, as if running on solar batteries. Small iguanas group and spend the night as if in a manger, but as soon as the sun warms up they continue moving again.

Heading to the treetops for fresh and young shoots, small lizards find themselves in the world of their adult relatives. This meeting is good for them. While feeding on leaves and fruits, adults regularly drop droppings on the lower branches, which serve as healthy food for the babies. Manure provides little iguanas with everything they need and is easily digestible. It contains a lot of fruit sugars, vitamins and bacteria necessary to start digestion.

Once on the floor of adult iguanas, they gradually enter adult life. Since adults do not pay attention to the young, they stick together for several months until they are strong enough to defend themselves. They become mature only after five years.

The length of the body (from the nose to the tip of the tail) reaches an average of 2 m, weight up to 5-7 kg.

The sex of a green iguana can be determined by examining the underside hind legs. Males have well-developed odor-secreting pores in this area, which are often covered with a waxy substance. In addition, males have noticeably longer and thicker spiny scales along their tail than females.

Green iguanas are diurnal and feed exclusively on plant foods: leaves, flowers, fruits and young shoots. Previously it was believed that young individuals feed on insects, but this statement has not been confirmed. They live in trees, near bodies of water, into which they dive in case of danger or fright. They climb well, they can easily climb to a height of up to 12 meters without causing harm to themselves. Also, despite their apparent clumsiness, they can move quickly.

Due to the popularity of trading these animals as pets, and because they are consumed as food in some Latin American countries, this type is included in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade CITES as a species threatened with extinction.

In case of perceived danger, green iguanas perform a number of actions. First and most importantly, they are trying to hide. If there is a source of water nearby, they dive and swim away. Second, they protrude the fold of skin around the larynx, bulge their body and throw their heads towards the intended predator. Finally, if this does not help, they will try to bite or hit with their tail. For humans, the bite is painful and may require medical attention for stitches.

Breeding

Behind Lately These lizards have become extremely popular in the pet trade market - over 800 thousand individuals were imported into the United States alone during the year, mainly as a result of capture in their permanent habitats. Despite their huge demand, these animals require careful care throughout their lives and most die within a few years. In the year the organization NAID was formed. National Iguana Awareness Day, NIAD), designed to stop the popular belief that iguanas are “discarded pets.”

Many uninformed buyers are lured by the price of young iguanas and the low cost of caring for them, feeding them inappropriate food and housing them in environments without heat sources. If owners feed iguanas insects, they assume that this is a suitable product and feed on them. However, this harms the iguana's digestive system and they may die. In captivity, iguanas must be kept at a temperature of 24-32 °C and must have a source of ultraviolet radiation. In the absence of such a source, animals may develop metabolic bone disease, which can be fatal if proper measures are not taken.

At proper care Green iguana in captivity lives from 8 to 20 years. The oldest known green iguana is 29 years old.

Gallery

Links

• Website of the international Russian-speaking community of iguana lovers - IguanaRus

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

• Green Country (platform)
• Green map

See what "Green Iguana" is in other dictionaries:

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Lives in South America and Central America. Body length up to 1.5 m, weight up to 8 kg. The color of the body varies depending on the habitat; they can be gray-green, or gray-blue, black, red, orange, lilac-pink. The color is characterized by a metallic sheen; there may be dark spots. They have excellent camouflage. The body is covered with scales, the head with scutes. In the iguana thin body With long tail, there is a throat pouch, a longitudinal ridge along the back. This comb is not just a decoration, it helps to scare away enemies. Having sharp claws on short limbs, she deftly climbs trees, holding on to the bark with their help. Each paw has five toes. The pouch on the throat performs the function of thermoregulation of the animal. Her vision is good, her hearing is excellent, she picks up the slightest noise.

Lizards have taken root in bushes, mangrove forests, and humid forests. They also feel good in open rocky places, but always close to water. They can swim in water, moving through it with the help of their tail. Almost their entire life is spent in trees and they are active during the day. They climb higher branches to get warmth sun rays and warm the body, receiving the necessary energy. Having stocked up on vitamin D, the iguana goes in search of food. It feeds on plant foods: fruits, leaves, flowers and shoots. With sharp small teeth he bites off the delicacy and swallows it, because he cannot chew. They rarely drink water. In the evening, on the contrary, they descend to the lower branches to retain heat. If the air temperature drops significantly, they completely move to the ground, where they sleep. The optimal living temperature for it is +30 0.

The lizard has many enemies, including foxes, crocodiles and birds of prey. Then there are several ways to protect yourself: 1) hide and remain invisible, 2) run away, 3) jump into the water and swim away. If, nevertheless, it had to face an enemy, the iguana inflates its body, sticking its throat sac forward, and hisses loudly. Can lunge at an opponent and bite, hit with its tail and even scratch an opponent.

The mating season begins in January. Males quickly select a certain territory and mark it. Fights between suitors rarely occur; usually, a male who has looked into someone else's territory leaves after warning poses from the owner. The female's pregnancy lasts 65 days. She goes upstream of the river, where she digs a hole 45-100 cm deep in the sand on the dune. The iguana lays eggs in it for three days. Sometimes this process lasts more than three days. In total, she will lay 20 - 70 eggs in a white leathery shell. Then, having carefully buried the clutch, it will go back to its habitat. Will not take part in the protection or upbringing of offspring. After 2 - 3 months, the cubs appear. They get to the surface themselves and lead independent life. The young individuals will spend the year together.

IN wildlife live 8 years.

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